CHAPTER II. 



SHOEING HORSES THAT FORGE AND INTERFERE. 



A. Forging. 



Forging is that defect of the horse's gait by reason of which, at 

 a trot, he strikes the ends of the branches or the under surface 

 of the front shoe with the toe of the hind shoe. 



Forging is unpleasant to hear and dangerous to the horse. It 

 is hable to wound the heels of the forefeet, damages the toes of 

 the hind hoofs, and often pulls off the front shoes. 



Causes. — 1. Faulty conformation ; for example, horses that 

 stand considerably higher at the croup than at the withers ; horses 

 with long legs and short bodies ; horses that " stand under" in front 



and behind. 2. Using horses on 

 heavy ground, unskilful driving; 

 riding without holding a horse to 

 his work by feeling his mouth 

 and pressing the knees against 



Fig. 93. 



Eight front shoe with concave ground- 

 surface ("convex iron") to prevent 

 "forging." 



Right hind shoe with lateral toe-clips to pre- 

 vent " cUcking" and the various injuries due to 

 forging. 



his sides. 3. Fatigue frequently leads to forging, even in horses 

 that are well built and properly shod. It may also occur in the 

 act of vaulting over an obstacle. 4. Poor shoeing, especially too 



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